Current Research

The research program is focused on soil productivity and profitability in sustainable and organic cropping systems. Research initiatives include linking soil health indicators to productive agroecosystems, mitigation of soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration and nutrient management of inorganic fertilizers, organic amendments and cover crops.

Current Studies

1. Developing a continuous monitoring protocol for nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions rate at the Center of Environmental Farming Systems
2. Defining soil carbon sequestration rates and soil health metrics in low fertility Southeast soils with cover crops and organic amendments (Biochar + Compost).

3. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) containing urease and nitrification inhibitors are an effective way to prevent ammonia volatilization and reduce nitrous oxide emissions. These on-farm trials, will provide critical information on the efficacy of reducing nitrogen and/or using inhibitors on emissions and corn yield in the low soil carbon, hot and humid conditions of the southeast.

4. Flux Gradient Towers at the Tidewater Research Station, evaluating nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide emissions and water and energy usage in alternative cropping systems including cover crop adoption and sustainable intensification.

5.Evaluating benefits of winter annual cover crop systems for organic sweetpotato and corn in North Carolina

6. The use of Polyhalite as a potassium fertilizer for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) production in North Carolina

7.Enhanced Rock Weathering for Permanent Carbon Capture in acidic soils of North Carolina (Coming soon!)